Portable needlecraft support

ABSTRACT

A portable apparatus for supporting a fancy stitchery working frame in a position readily accessible to a needlecraftsman and which is adjustable to accommodate different types of working frames including embroidery hoops, tapestry frames and the like in a manner to permit the needlecraftsman to use both hands on the work. The apparatus includes a supporting structure which is adjustable in a plurality of directions for different sized persons and readily accepts a plurality of interchangeable fancy stitchery working frames each of which may be inverted so that various functions can be performed on opposite sides of the material carried thereby.

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,906,648

PORTABLE NEEDLECRAFI SUPPORT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates generally to fancy stitchery or handneedlecraft and relates particularly to a portable apparatus whichsupports a working frame in a comfortable easily accessible position toa craftsman.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past fancy stitchery and artneedlework have been practiced for centuries and since the work has beendone by hand the resulting products have not only served a usefulpurpose but have been treasured as heirlooms and works of art. Many worksupporting frames, such as embroidery hoops, tapestry frames, rug framesand the like, have been provided for holding a length of base materialwhich is usually of a woven character, in a stretched or taut condition,while a craftsman worked a design thereon using a needle and one or morecolored threads or yarns to enhance the appearance of the base material.During this operation, relatively small frames, such as embroidery hoopsand small tapestry frames, normally are held in one hand while the otherhand is used for manipulating the needle and thread. Frequently a largenumber of colors are to be worked into the fancy stitchery and thereforeit has been necessary that much knotting and cutting of the threads bedone. Substantially all of the knotting and cutting are done on thereverse side of the base material so as not to detract from the designon the obverse side. Accordingly, it has frequently been necessary toreverse the working frame from the front to the back and from the backto the front.

Heretofore some efforts have been made to provide working frame supportstands; however, most of these stands are relatively large and aresupported on the floor and most of these stands require a support ateach end of the working frame. Some efforts have been made to providelightweight portable support stands for fancy stitchery working framessuch as the U.S. Pat. Nos. to Voit 583,520; Post 707,353; Wilkinsl,0l6,463; Sclden 3,730,077; and Bueher 3,750,312. However. most of theprior art structures have lacked the degree of flexibility required toperform the various functions associated with fancy needlework and manyof the prior art structures had to be mounted on a fixed structure suchas the edge of a table or the like. SUM- MARY OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention is embodied in a portable fancy stitchery workingframe support stand having a base member adapted to be placed on a chairor the like so that a needlecraftsman sits on the seat frame tostabilize the remainder of the apparatus. The remainder of the apparatusis adjustably mounted on the base member so that the working frame isheld in a position which is easily accessible to the craftsman and isadapted to support the frame so that the craftsman may use both handssimultaneously to work on the design. The support stand is constructedin a manner to permit ready access to both the obverse and reverse sidesof the working frame and is readily adjustable to a desired height andangular relationship relative to a craftsman and can accommodate aplurality of interchangeable sizes and types of working frames.

It is an object of the invention to provide a portable fancy stitcheryworking frame support stand which is stabilized by the craftsman sittingon a portion of the stand while other portions adjustably support theworking frame in a position easily accessible to the craftsman.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sup port stand for adesired type of fancy stitchery working frames and provide ready accessto the obverse and reverse sides of the working frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective illustratingone application of the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus per se.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective illustrating the support stand perse without a working frame.

FIG. 5 is a perspective illustrating a working frame support in a firstposition.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the structure of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an end elevation illustrating the structure of FIG. 5 in asecond position.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective of a tapestry frame support member.

FIG. 9 is a perspective of an embroidery hoop mounting member.

FIG. I0 is a perspective illustrating another embodiment of the workingframe mounting member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With continued reference to thedrawings, a portable support stand 10 is provided having an elongatedrelatively flat base 11 upon which a craftsman sits. A slide plate 12having an elongated slot 13 located substantially along the longitudinalaxis thereof is adjustably mounted on the base 11 by a pair of spacedadjustable fasteners such as bolts and wing nuts 14. The bolts aremounted on the base and extend upwardly through the slots 13 and thewing nuts secure the slide plate 12 in fixed adjusted position relativeto the base. It is contemplated that other conventional clamping meanscould be provided for adjusting the position of the slide plate I2relative to the base I I, especially in a direction generally normal tothe longitudinal axis of the base.

The end of the slide plate 12 remote from the base has an opening 15extending therethrough in a vertical direction and the outer end of suchslide plate is bifurcated by a generally vertical slit 16 extending fromthe outer end of the slide plate through the opening IS. The outer endsof the bifurcation are connected by a bolt and wing nut I7 or otheradjustable fastener adapted to urge the bifurcations toward each otherto form a clamp.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1-9, an upstanding post 18 isslidably received within the opening 15 in such a manner that tighteningof the fastener 17 causes the bifurcated end of the slide plate 12 toclamp the post 18 and hold such post in fixed adjusted position. In somecases, the slit l6 and fastener 17 may be omitted and the lower end ofthe post 18 is permanently fixed within the opening 15 in any desiredmanner, as by nails, screws. adhesives, or the like.

An adjusting block 20 having a generally vertically disposed opening 21of a size to slidably receive the post I8 is adjustably clamped to suchpost to provide for vertical adjustability of the block. In order to dothis, one end of the block is bifurcated in a vertical direction byproviding a slit 22 extending from the end of the block through theopening 21 and such bifurcations are connected by an adjustable fastener23 which clamps the adjusting block onto the post 18 at a desiredelevation above the slide plate 12.

The opposite end of the adjusting block 20 has an opening 24 disposedgenerally normal to the opening 21 and located in a substantiallyhorizontal plane. Such opposite end is bifurcated generally horizontallyby means of a slit 25 extending through the opening 24 and suchbifurcations are connected by an adjustable fastener 26. An elongateddowel or rod 27 which is generally circular in cross-section is slidablyreceived within the opening 24 and is adapted to be clamped in fixedadjusted position by the fastener 26.

As illustrated best in FIG. 3, one end of the dowel 27 is fixed to arelatively short anchor block 28 having a hinge 29 fixed to the upperportion thereof. An elongated swing member 30 has its upper centralportion connected to the hinge 29 and may be swung from a positionadjacent to the front of the anchor block, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3and 5, to a position on top of the anchor block, as illustrated in FIGS.4 and 7. A horizontally disposed opening 31 is located adjacent to eachend of the swing member 30 outwardly of the ends of the anchor block 28and each end of such swing member is bifurcated by means of a slit 32extending from the end through the opening 31 and such bifurcations areconnected by an adjustable fastener 33. Each of the openings 31 slidablyreceives a relatively short dowel or rod 34 which can be clamped infixed adjusted position by the fasteners 33. Both dowels 34 are sccuredto a movable jaw member 35 which is adjustable toward and from the swingmember 30.

As illustrated best in FIG. 6, the jaw member 35 is movable toward andaway from the swing member 30 until the jaw member 35 is a fixeddistance from the swing member. With particular reference to FIG. 8, atapestry working frame 38 is provided having a pair of generallyparallel side bars 39 (only one of which is shown) connected by a pairof spaced generally parallel rods 40 on which a base material 41 ismounted. Normally the base material is of woven construction and iswound on the rods 40 in such a manner that the base material can beshifted from one rod to the other. Each of the side bars 39 is providedwith a depending T- shaped connector 42 having a downwardly extendingcentral portion 43. The connector 42 is removably received between theswing member 30 and the jaw member 35 with the central portion 43located between the dowels 34.

Normally the connector 42 frictionally engages both the swing member 30and the jaw member 35 so that the tapestry working frame 38 is retainedthereby. Since each of the side bars 39 is provided with a connector 42,the tapestry frame can be readily removed and turned end for end so thatthe connector at the opposite end of the working frame can be insertedbetween the swing member 30 and the jaw member 35.

In order to accommodate an embroidery hoop 44, a connector 45, FIG. 9.is provided having a central portion 46 and a pair of upper outwardlyextending flanges 47. A clamping bar 48 is connected at opposite ends tothe flanges 47 by adjustable fasteners 49. The embroidery hoop 44 whichis of conventional construction, can be rotated to a desired positionand then clamped between the bar 48 and the connector 45. After the hoophas been clamped, the connector 45 is inserted between the swing member30 and the jaw member 35 with the central portion 46 locatedintermediate the dowels 34 so that the hoop is supported by the stand.

With particular reference to FIG. 7, due to the inherent tolerances inthe stand. particularly after the stand has been in use for some time,it is possible that the working frame would not remain in asubstantially level position and therefore would be more difficult towork on. In order to adjust the relative positions between the swingmember 30 and the jaw member 35, an adjusting screw 50 is located in thefront face of the anchor block 28 and such screw functions as anadjustable stop for the swing member so that such swing member isdisposed at a slight angle to a vertical plane which results in theworking frame 38 being substantially horizontal. A second adjustingscrew 51 is carried by the hinge plate which supports the swing member30 and such adjusting screw 51 is adapted to engage the hinge platecarried by the anchor block 28 when the swing member 30 is swungupwardly to the top of the anchor block.

With particular reference to FIG. 10, another em' bodiment of theinvention is disclosed having an upstanding post 55 which is similar tothe post 18 and such post is provided with a horizontally disposedopening 56 of a size to slidably receive a dowel 57. The upper end ofthe post is bifurcated by means of a slit 58 and such bifurcations areconnected by an adjustable fastener 59 for clamping the dowel 57 infixed adjusted position. An anchor block 60 is fixed to one end of thedowel 57 and such anchor block has a hinge 61 mounted on its uppersurface. The other side of the hinge 61 is connected directly to theupper surface of one of the side bars 39 of the tapestry frame 38 sothat the tapestry frame is connected directly to the anchor biock 60. Inthis embodiment the rods 40 of a tapestry frame can be slidably mountedin the openings at opposite ends of the side bars, or if desired aclamping bar 48, as previously described in connection with FIG. 9. canbe adjustably connected to the top of the side bar carried by the hinge61.

in the operation of the device, the base 11 is placed on a chair orother surface so that a craftsman can either sit directly on the base 11or can sit on the chair and have the base disposed below his legs. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the support stand 10 is arranged for arighthandcd person; however, it is noted that by removing the fasteners14, turning the base end for end. revcrsing the position of the slideplate 12 on the base 11 and reapplying the fasteners, the apparatuscould easily be changed to accommodate a lefthanded person.

When the craftsman is in position on the base 1 l, the slide plate 12 isadjusted inwardly or outwardly, de pending upon the size of thecraftsman, until the post 18 is located at a desired position and thefasteners 14 are tightened. After the slide plate 12 has been adjustedso that the post 18 is in a desired position, the adjusting block 20 ismoved to a desired height on the post 18 and the fastener 23 istightened to maintain the adjusting block in fixed adjusted position. Atthe same time the adjusting block 20 is being moved up and down thepost, such block may be swung around the post in a horizontal plane toadjust the angular relationship of the working frame relative to thecraftsman.

When a relatively small working frame, such as an embroidery hoop 44 ora small tapestry working frame is to be used, the dowel 27 is insertedfrom the craftsman's side of the adjusting block through, thesopening 24in such a manner that the anchor block 28 is on the same side of thepost 18 as the craftsman. In this position the connector 45 of a hoop 44or the connector 42 of a tapestry working frame 38 is inserted betweenthe swing member 30 and the jaw member 35 after which the dowel 27 isrotated so that theworking frame is inclined at a comfortable angle forthe craftsman. In this position the craftsman uses a needle and coloredthread or yarn to 'stitch a desireddesign on the obverse side of thebase material 41. When the particular color is to be terminated, thecraftsman swings theswing member 30 about the hinge 29 to expose thereverse side of the base material so that the thread can be knotted andcut. Thereafter the swing member is returned to its original positionand a different colored thread can be stitched on the obverse side ofthe base material.

When a relatively long tapestry working frame is to be used, the dowel27 is removed from the adjusting block 20 and reinserted from theopposite side so that the anchor block 28 is located on the side of thepost opposite the craftsman. After the dowel 27 has been movedlengthwise to a desired position and has been rotated to provide adesired angle to a horizontal plane, the swing member 30 is swungupwardly so that the swing member rests on top of the anchor block 28.In this position the connector 42 of the side bar 39 of the tapestryframe is inserted between the swing member 30 and the jaw member 35 sothat the working area of the tapestry frame is disposed in front of thecraftsman. It is noted that the position of the working area can bealtered by movement of the dowel 27 through the adjusting block 20.

In fancy stitchery many stitches extend in a vertical direction or ahorizontal direction or at an angle to either the right or the left. Anexperienced craftsman normally is capable of performing all of thestitches with the working frame in one position; however, a lessexperienced craftsman may have difficulty in making stitches in one ormore of the directions. If this is the case, a less experiencedcraftsman can make stitches in the direction which is comfortable to himand thereafter the working frame can be easily removed from the standand turned end for end so that the opposite end of the frame issupported by the stand in which position the craftsman can again makestitches in the direction which is comfortable but which are opposite tothe stitches previously made.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, the post 55 may be movedvertically through the opening of the slide plate to provide forvertical adjustment of the working frame and the dowel 57 may be movedlongitudinally through the opening 56 adjacent to the upper end of thepost to provide for horizontal adjustment of the working frame. Rotationof the dowel 57 adjusts the rotational angularity of the working frame.This embodiment is primarily for use by more experienced craftsmen sincethe working frame is attached directly to the anchor block 28 andtherefore the working frame is not reversible end for end as in thefirst embodiment.

Although the support stand 10 has been illustrated and described for usewith a chair and with a craftsman sitting on the base ll, it iscontemplated that the base ll may be placed on a table or othersupporting surface in front of a craftsman and the adjusting block maybe moved down the post 18 so that the working frame -the working frame38 or the hoop 44 in a fixed adjusted position which is comfortable tothe craftsman so that the eraftsmancan use both hands for the work.Normallyonehand is located above the base material 41 carried by theframe, while the other hand is located below such base material. When itis desired to change the color of the. yarn, the working frame is swungupwardly about the hinge 29 or 61 so that the reverse side is accessibleto the craftsman so that the yarn can be knotted and cut.

' 1 claims l. A portable needlecraft stand for supporting a fancystitchery working frame comprising a base normally located on a seat andunderneath a craftsman, a slide plate having one end adjustably mountedon one end of said base, an upstanding post carried by the other end ofsaid slide plate, the upper end of said post being disposedsubstantially above said slide plate, means on said post for slidablyand rotatably supporting an elongated rod and for clamping said rod inadjusted position, anchor block means fixed to one end of said rod, andmeans for hingedly mounting a fancy stitchery working frame on saidanchor block, whereby the working frame may be located in a positionaccessible to the craftsman and said working fame can be swung aboutsaid hinged mounting means to provide access to the reverse side of thematerial carried by the working frame.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said means on said post forsupporting said rod includes an adjusting block means having a firstopening for receiving said post and a second opening for receiving saidrod.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said means for hingedly mounting aframe on said anchor block includes a swing member hingedly connected tosaid anchor block, a jaw member adjustably mounted for movement towardand from said swing member, and means for securing said jaw member infixed adjusted position relative to said swing member.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which said means for adjusting said jawmember relative to said swing member includes spaced rods carried bysaid jaw member and extending through openings in said swing member, andfastener means carried by said swing member for securing said rods inadjusted position.

5. The structure of claim 4 in which said fancy stitchery working frameincludes at least one connector receivable between said jaw member andsaid swing member, said connector having a central portion 10- eatedbetween said spaced rods.

6. A portable needlccraft stand for supporting a fancy stitchery workingframe comprising a base, a slide plate having one end adjustably mountedon one end of said base, means for securing said slide plate in fixedadjusted position, an upstanding post carried by the other end of saidslide plate, adjusting block means having a first opening slidably androtatably receiving said post, means for securing said adjusting blockmeans in fixed position on said post, said block means having a secondopening disposed generally normal to said first opening, elongated rodmeans slidably and rotatably mounted within said second opening, meansfor securing said rod means in fixed adjusted position, anchor blockmeans fixed to one end of said rod means,

a swing member connected to said anchor block means by a hinge so thatthe swing member can move from a position adjacent the front of saidanchor block means to a position adjacent the top thereof, a jaw memberspaced from said swing member, and means adjustably connecting said jawmember to said swing member to provide a space for receiving andfrictionally engaging a fancy stichery working frame, whereby saidworking frame is supported by said stand in a manner that the frame canbe removed and turned end for end and then reinserted and said workingframe can be hinged upwardly to provide access to the reverse sidethereof.

7. A portable stand for supporting a fancy stitchery working framecomprising a base located along a gencrally horizontal plane and havinga portion adapted to be sat on by a craftsman, upstanding post meanscarried by said base, support means movably mounted on said post meansand being located in a plane generally parallel to the plane of saidbase. anchor block means fixed to one end of said support means, andmeans for hingedly mounting a fancy stitchery working frame on saidanchor block means, whereby the working frame may be moved to a positionso as to be readily accessible for the craftsman and said working framecan be swung about said hinged mounting means to provide access to bothsides of said working frame.

l t t l

1. A portable needlecraft stand for supporting a fancy stitchery workingframe comprising a base normally located on a seat and underneath acraftsman, a slide plate having one end adjustably mounted on one end ofsaid base, an upstanding post carried by the other end of said slideplate, the upper end of said post being disposed substantially abovesaid slide plate, means on said post for slidably and rotatablysupporting an elongated rod and for clamping said rod in adjustedposition, anchor block means fixed to one end of said rod, and means forhingedly mounting a fancy stitchery working frame on said anchor block,whereby the working frame may be located in a position accessible to thecraftsman and said working fame can be swung about said hinged mountingmeans to provide access to the reverse side of the material carried bythe working frame.
 2. The structure of claim 1 in which said means onsaid post for supporting said rod includes an adjusting block meanshaving a first opening for receiviNg said post and a second opening forreceiving said rod.
 3. The structure of claim 1 in which said means forhingedly mounting a frame on said anchor block includes a swing memberhingedly connected to said anchor block, a jaw member adjustably mountedfor movement toward and from said swing member, and means for securingsaid jaw member in fixed adjusted position relative to said swingmember.
 4. The structure of claim 3 in which said means for adjustingsaid jaw member relative to said swing member includes spaced rodscarried by said jaw member and extending through openings in said swingmember, and fastener means carried by said swing member for securingsaid rods in adjusted position.
 5. The structure of claim 4 in whichsaid fancy stitchery working frame includes at least one connectorreceivable between said jaw member and said swing member, said connectorhaving a central portion located between said spaced rods.
 6. A portableneedlecraft stand for supporting a fancy stitchery working framecomprising a base, a slide plate having one end adjustably mounted onone end of said base, means for securing said slide plate in fixedadjusted position, an upstanding post carried by the other end of saidslide plate, adjusting block means having a first opening slidably androtatably receiving said post, means for securing said adjusting blockmeans in fixed position on said post, said block means having a secondopening disposed generally normal to said first opening, elongated rodmeans slidably and rotatably mounted within said second opening, meansfor securing said rod means in fixed adjusted position, anchor blockmeans fixed to one end of said rod means, a swing member connected tosaid anchor block means by a hinge so that the swing member can movefrom a position adjacent the front of said anchor block means to aposition adjacent the top thereof, a jaw member spaced from said swingmember, and means adjustably connecting said jaw member to said swingmember to provide a space for receiving and frictionally engaging afancy stichery working frame, whereby said working frame is supported bysaid stand in a manner that the frame can be removed and turned end forend and then reinserted and said working frame can be hinged upwardly toprovide access to the reverse side thereof.
 7. A portable stand forsupporting a fancy stitchery working frame comprising a base locatedalong a generally horizontal plane and having a portion adapted to besat on by a craftsman, upstanding post means carried by said base,support means movably mounted on said post means and being located in aplane generally parallel to the plane of said base, anchor block meansfixed to one end of said support means, and means for hingedly mountinga fancy stitchery working frame on said anchor block means, whereby theworking frame may be moved to a position so as to be readily accessiblefor the craftsman and said working frame can be swung about said hingedmounting means to provide access to both sides of said working frame.